A new study reveals that non-small cell lung cancers are driven by multiple genetic changes, including alterations in TP53 and other pathways. The findings suggest that combination therapies targeting these mutations may improve treatment outcomes and prevent drug resistance.
A study by UC San Francisco and CDPH found that lead in imported candy was the top source of food-borne contamination in California, with nearly all cases coming from Mexico, China, and India. The testing program has identified lead sources upstream, allowing for removal before poisoning can occur.
Using electronic health records, UCSF researchers mapped over 435,000 patient location changes and identified a critical CT scanner in the Emergency Department as a significant source of exposure-related C. diff infections. This analysis led to improved cleaning practices and bolstered infection prevention strategies.
A team at UC San Francisco and UNC Chapel Hill has determined the crystal structure of the dopamine receptor D4 at an incredibly high resolution. This breakthrough allows researchers to design a new compound that tightly binds only to D4, potentially leading to more effective psychiatric drugs with fewer side effects.
A new UCSF-led study found that non-representative sampling in pediatric MRI images significantly distorted findings about brain development with age. The research team created a weighted version of the dataset to better reflect the US population, revealing faster-paced brain development and a back-to-front model of brain region develo...
Researchers have successfully completed a Phase II clinical trial showing that an FDA-approved antihistamine restores nervous system function in patients with chronic multiple sclerosis. The drug, clemastine fumarate, repairs damage inflicted on myelin, speeding transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system.
Despite electronic health record adoption, many US hospitals face challenges in integrating external data from other providers, leading to clinician barriers and limited accessibility. The study highlights the need for improved systems to ensure seamless data sharing.
A new polygenic hazard score test combines 31 genetic variants and APOE E4 to predict Alzheimer's risk in cognitively normal older adults, outperforming traditional APOE E4 testing. The test identifies high-risk individuals with early cognitive decline and higher amyloid plaque levels.
Researchers identified specific gut microbes associated with multiple sclerosis, suggesting they play a role in regulating immune responses and potentially contributing to disease progression. The study found that certain bacteria can trigger pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory responses in the immune system.
A research team has developed a method using modified CRISPR to find gene activators associated with autoimmune disorders. By targeting specific regions of the genome, they identified fundamental circuitry of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's disease, providing new insights into their mechanisms.
A study published by UC San Francisco researchers has identified specific groups of neurons in the brain's temporal cortex that distinguish speaker, phonetics, and intonation. These neurons respond to changes in vocal pitch and help convey meaning and emotion in spoken language.
A new study by UC San Francisco researchers found that tobacco companies knew NRT hardly ever works without counseling, but now sell it over-the-counter to complement smoking. The 'Tobacco Papers' reveal how industry documents show a shift in perception toward nicotine.
A recent study published in JAMA found that many studies supporting changes to high-risk medical devices are poorly designed and lack rigor. The researchers analyzed 83 supplement approvals for these devices and found similar problems with data quality and analysis procedures as seen in premarket approval studies.
A large California study found that pregnant women with sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea are at a higher risk of delivering their babies before full term. The study also suggests that treating sleep disorders during pregnancy could be a way to reduce the preterm birth rate.
A study by UC San Francisco scientists found that administering klotho to young, aging or impaired mice rapidly improves their cognitive and physical performance. The treatment also showed benefits for aged mice and those with Parkinson's disease-like symptoms, suggesting a potential therapeutic application.
A new study found that patients with lower immune cell numbers, particularly those with exhausted T cells, benefit most from combination immunotherapy. Researchers developed an assay to measure immune cell populations and predict patient responses.
Scientists at UCSF discover primary cilia, found on fat-forming cells in muscle, regulate fat formation and tissue renewal. The study provides new insights into muscle aging and disease, potentially leading to improved muscle regeneration.
Researchers at UCSF developed a computational method to analyze open-access data and identify new treatments for cancer. The method, called Reverse Gene Expression Score (RGES), predicts drug efficacy by analyzing molecular characteristics of real tumors. Four drugs were identified with potential to treat liver cancer and other diseases.
A recent study published in Cell Metabolism found that brain-resident immune cells called microglia play a crucial role in driving overeating and weight gain in mice fed high-fat diets. The study suggests that targeting microglia could provide a novel approach to treating obesity, potentially avoiding side effects of existing medications.
A new clinical study led by UC San Francisco has identified a molecular test that can pinpoint breast cancer patients with the lowest risk of death, even 20 years after diagnosis. The test, called MammaPrint®, can accurately identify ultralow-risk tumors, which are associated with an excellent prognosis and minimal toxic effects.
Researchers have discovered that specialized gut cells called enterochromaffin (EC) cells sense potentially noxious chemicals and trigger electrical impulses in nearby nerve fibers. This finding could lead to new approaches for treating gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
A recent study by UCSF researchers found that around 22.8% of children with Tourette's met the criteria for autism, compared to 8.7% of adults. The study suggests that the high rate may be due to shared symptoms rather than an overlapping etiology.
A UCSF-led study found that crowdsourced data may not be representative of certain populations, such as older adults and racial/ethnic minorities. The study suggests that proactive efforts are needed to promote inclusion of underrepresented groups in projects using crowdsourced recruitment and data collection.
Researchers at UCSF found that black heart attack patients suffered higher mortality rates when ambulances were diverted due to hospital overcrowding. In contrast, better coordination between correctional and community health care systems can help reduce these disparities. A separate study also found that released prisoners who receive...
Researchers at UCSF found a significant association between chronic pain and faster declines in memory function and increased risk of dementia in older adults. The study suggests that chronic pain could be related to changes in the brain contributing to cognitive decline.
A new study found that bicycle injuries to adults in the US resulted in $237 billion in medical costs over a 17-year period. Medical costs from non-fatal bike crashes increased by 137 percent, with older men accounting for a significant proportion of total costs.
Researchers at UCSF have discovered that regulatory T cells trigger stem cells to promote healthy hair growth. The study suggests that defects in Tregs could be responsible for alopecia areata and potentially play a role in other forms of baldness.
Researchers used cutting-edge techniques to capture videos of T cell surface dynamics, revealing microvilli crawl independently in fractal geometry to explore antigen-presenting cells. This efficient search pattern allows T cells to thoroughly sample their environment in just minutes, optimizing immune response.
A survey of 5,782 physician mothers found that 78% experienced discrimination, with forms ranging from disrespect and reduced pay to being overlooked for promotions. Employers can mitigate this by implementing policies like longer paid maternity leaves, backup child care, lactation support, and schedule flexibility.
A study has identified four brain-expressed genes as likely risk factors for Tourette disorder, including WWC1, FN1, CELSR3, and NIPBL. De novo variants in these genes were found to have a significant association with the disorder, suggesting a potential target for effective treatments.
Researchers discovered that signals from surrounding tissue trigger dental stem cells to proliferate and differentiate into mature tooth tissue. The findings have implications for understanding tissue renewal and could lead to improved therapies for cancer treatment.
Researchers at UCSF discovered a specialized enzyme that destroys chitin, a tough natural material found in the environment, which accumulates in the lungs and triggers inflammatory lung disease. Mice with this enzyme deficiency developed severe lung disease, but restoring its activity cleared up symptoms.
A recent study by UCSF found that young adults experience greater pleasure from smoking cigarettes while under the influence of alcohol compared to marijuana. The study, which used self-reported data from 500 participants aged 18-25, suggests that co-use of cigarettes and alcohol may be more pleasurable than co-use with marijuana.
A study of California Medicaid recipients with severe mental illness found low cervical cancer screening rates, with only 20.2% screened compared to 42.3% in the general population. Younger women and those from minority groups had higher screening rates, but there was still a significant disparity in cervical cancer development risk.
A new study at the University of California found that assessing and comparing radiation doses across hospitals can lead to significantly lower doses for common CT scans. The project resulted in substantially lower radiation doses for chest and abdominal scans, as well as more consistent radiation doses for head scans.
A new study suggests that brain inflammation and cognitive decline following surgery are triggered by the brain's own microglia. In a mouse model, experimental oral drug depletion of microglia ahead of surgery prevented memory loss and reduced inflammatory molecules in the hippocampus.
Researchers have developed a new technique that allows for precise mapping of cellular signaling networks involved in human biology and disease. This breakthrough opens up exciting avenues for understanding and treating psychiatric diseases, including opioid addiction.
A study led by the University of California - San Francisco found that South Asians and Hispanics of normal weight are more likely to have high glucose and hypertension compared to whites. The researchers found that non-whites need lower BMI levels to match the cardio-metabolic risks of whites with a higher BMI.
Researchers found that mouse lungs produce over half of the body's platelets and contain a pool of stem cells capable of restoring blood production. This discovery suggests the lungs may also play a key role in human blood formation, with implications for treating diseases like thrombocytopenia.
Researchers developed a smartphone app using geofencing to track participants' hospital visits, achieving 65% accuracy. The study highlights the potential of smartphones in tracking medical visits and reducing retrospective reporting errors.
Researchers at UC San Francisco have cracked the mystery of electrosensation in skates, revealing new insights into how these animals detect prey. The study found that specific ion channels play a crucial role in this process, and that there are similarities between the skate's electrosensory system and the mammalian auditory system.
A study using AI technique TDA identified patients with normal brain scans who may deteriorate months after diagnosis and develop symptoms like post-traumatic stress disorder. The research also found molecular biomarkers predictive of poor recovery, paving the way for personalized treatments.
Researchers at UC San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente have identified genetic predictors of normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in healthy men. This information can be used to improve the accuracy of PSA-based prostate cancer screening tests.
The new ENCODE centers will use cutting-edge technology to define the functions and gene targets of regulatory sequences, which play a major role in diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and autism. Scientists aim to identify crucial regulatory elements that control gene expression and cell behavior.
A new study by UC San Francisco researchers reveals that distinct sets of genetic defects in a single neuronal protein can cause either infantile epilepsy or autism spectrum disorders. The study identifies SCN2A as the human gene with the strongest evidence for a causal role in driving ASDs.
A new study found that providing nutritious meals to HIV-positive individuals and those with Type 2 diabetes improved medication adherence, reduced depression, and increased optimal blood sugar control. Participants consumed fewer fats, more fruits and vegetables, and lost weight, while also experiencing fewer symptoms of depression.
A study of patients undergoing catheter ablation found a significantly higher rate of brain injury due to embolism among those with left ventricle therapy compared to right ventricle therapy. Brain lesions may also be associated with cognitive decline, highlighting the need for further research and strategies to avoid these lesions.
Researchers used fMRI to track brain activity in 75 concussion patients and found altered patterns associated with worse symptoms months later. The study identified abnormal connectivity in frontal areas and visual networks, suggesting a higher risk for long-term post-concussive symptoms.
A new study finds that e-cigarettes are expanding tobacco product use among youth, particularly those at low risk of starting with cigarettes. The researchers analyzed survey data from over 140,000 middle and high school students and found no evidence that e-cigarettes have caused a decline in youth smoking
New studies by researchers at UCSF suggest that genetic variants affecting physical traits in men and women are linked to different disease risks. Autism risk is associated with genetic variants known to contribute differently to physical traits in boys and girls.